Improvement in ball-targets



H. P. FLETCHER. Ball-Target.

No. 206,716. Patented Aug. 6,187.8.

N-PEYERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRIPMET, WASNINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE P. FLETCHER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEM ENT IN BALL-TARGETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 206,716, dated August 6, 1878; application filed June 272, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE I. FLETCHER, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented aBell for Trap-Shooting; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings.

My invention relates to a novel device to be employed in trapshooting, either with the shot-gun or rifle; and it consists in a resonant target or sounder, which can be thrown up in the usual or any suitable manner, and which will announce by its sound whenever it is struck bya shot without its being destroyed.

It has been the custom of late to use fragile glass balls as marks for practice or matches in what is known as wing or trap shooting, instead of shooting at pigeons or other birds started from a trap, as formerly. These glass balls are usually thrown into the air from a spring-trap made for the purpose, and when any of the shot from the guns strike the glass balls they are broken, by which it is known that the marksmans aim has been accurate. This style of shooting has come greatly into vogue of late years, both with shot-guns and rifles; but it is readily understood that where so many glass balls are destroyed the amusement is an expensive one.

My invention is intended to obviate the objectionable features of this class of shooting, by providing a mark which may be used in the same manner, but which may be used over and over again without being destroyed. It will at the same time indicate correctly whenever it is struck, and requires no change in the apparatus heretofore used to throw the glass balls.

Figure 1 is a view of my invention. is a section of the same.

In the present instance I have shown .my trap-target or sounder to be composed of two hemispherical metal bells, A, joined together by a metal stem, B, so that a small space, C, is left between the edges, as shown. When a shot strikes this bell a ringing sound will be distinctly heard, indicating that the mark has been hit. The bell or sounder then falls to the ground, and may be picked up, replaced in the spring-trap, and used again, whereas a glass ball would have been destroyed.

It is obvious that the bell or sounder may be made in various shapes or forms for the same purpose, so that when a shot strikes the surface it may be caused to ring and indicate the fact that it has been struck.

This device will be much more economical than the glass balls, since, although the first cost will be greater, they are practically indestructible, as they may be made of brass, iron, steel, or other metal, so as to be used and reused.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A bell-target for trap-shootin g, composed of the shot-proof resonant hemispheres A and shank B, all cast integral,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunt) set my hand and seal.

HORACE l. FLETCHER.

Witnesses CHAS. E. KELLY, .T. R. SMITH.

Fig. 2 

